Goose on Thanksgiving

Two vegetarians and a vegan ended up killing a bird on Thanks-
giving. Sounds like the beginning of a joke. It's actually the beginning of our annual St. George Thanksgiving vacation. Just south of Nephi, Bill and I watched as a Canadian goose took off from the side of the I-15, flying low and slow. Both of us thinking, "I hope that bird gets some elevation soon.", then quickly thinking "I hope that bird turns soon." , finally thinking "OH CRAP!" as we watched our windshield shatter. The noise was enough to make our two backseat boys actually look up from their video games and wonder "what happened?" Gratefully, no one (other than that stupid goose, who should have been much further south by now.) was hurt and the windshield stayed intact long enough for us to make it to St. George and call a glass repair company first thing in the morning.

When we booked the trip, it looked like the weather would be sunny and around 60 degrees each day. Just about perfect. Finicky Utah weather changes on a dime and we ended up with 45 and sunny. We skipped the family bike rides, but headed out on family hikes. We walked from one city park to another with Romney complaining about the cold for the mile and a half. Little did he realize we were enjoying sun and 20 degrees more warmth than he would be at home. Once we got to the park, the little man sat on a spinning ride for about an hour. When he finally got off of the thing, he kept drifting sideways until he fell over onto the wood chips laughing. Bill and I couldn't stop laughing either. It was hilarious. Way funnier than the goose joke.


We convinced our boys to go hiking around Dixie rock. They were not into the hiking this trip, but it was really all we had planned to do. Red rocks seems to have the same effect on my boys that they do on me. They sprung to life. We found all kinds of new trails and the boys enjoyed exploring. (Romney saw this photo and said "That's me worshiping the moon and feeling o' so spiritual".)


The next day we found a hike called the narrows, where only children can fit through a small crevice between two rocks. Our boys were elated. A hike just for them. It wasn't more than a couple hundred feet long, but they felt the thrill of independence. The weather turned cooler on us and we all wanted to retreat to the condo for dinner and movies. Bill the brave, got in a couple of chilly bike rides while the boys and I played basketball at the condo. The goose was our most exciting event, but we are all home safe and sound, relaxed and happy.

Eight Is Great!

Saturday morning Romney woke up to 3 bags worth of balloons all over his floor, streamers and a sign complete with Pikachu (a Pokemon) wishing his a happy birthday declaring "Eight is Gonna' be Great!" May I, as his Mama also add, eight is enough! (They just keep getting older, and older).

Time stands still for no man, woman or child and another birthday has come and gone in the Barber household. We are now free of them until next August. No one gets older again for another 9 months, right?
Romney celebrated by having a swimming party. He invited some buddies, told them to bring a towel, and that was the extent of the work that had to be done on our part. Of course, reminding parents, fending questions about possible presents, making 2 different flavors of cupcakes, and making sure we don't let any children drown while on our watch also counts as work. But it was worth it. Romney seemed to have a great time, and most importantly felt special and loved.
The most important part of any birthday party, the presents! He took in quite a haul. Currently he sits in front of me building lego set number 2 of the 5 he received. He is loving every second of it and it should keep him busy for days turning all those plastic bricks into space battleships, submarines and underwater sea monsters. He has played with some crazy tops, bakugan, pokemon cards and has read the very cool graphic novel about an American born Chinese boy. Thank goodness for a birthday party directly before the first big snow of the season. All those thoughtful gifts now turn into ways to keep him from climbing the walls (which we all know he loves to do!)

Chilzz Out(ta of Here)

Hungry after our Hickman hike, but nervous about finding food, we started for home. Sunday in Utah can turn a normal town into a ghost town, Sunday in a Utah small town can turn a ghost town into . . . well what is more desolate than a ghost town? We had a few snacks in case of a serious emergency, but didn't even have to break them out for we found Chillz in Torrey, Utah. With not another restaurant open in the entire town, we made an easy choice to stop and hope for the best. We walked in, and were greeted at the door by this creepy looking penguin. Not sure if that would be a good sign or a bad sign.



After a quick trip to the bathroom, passing the "bitchin' kitchen", things were starting to look up. Any place that labels their food prep area as "bitchin'" couldn't be too bad, right. We figured we wouldn't get healthy food, but with a vegan, 2 vegetarians and a man with stomach "issues" we were just hoping to find something workable.


Cheese pizzas, a chicken burger and, hallelujah, a veggie patty for me! Like I said, not healthy, but better than starving. Pretty tasty, even if completely junky. I even stole a couple of onion rings from Bill because they just looked too darn tasty! (Plus, I had just been on a hike, right?)



After ordering our tasty artery clogging food, we followed the sign that promised a mecca for little boys: "GAME ROOM", it enticed them from the front of the restaurant.



Straight out of the 80's movie Footloose, it was a game room from the 80's complete with Donkey Kong, Space Invaders, Pool and a Pin-ball Machine, not to mention the music! 80's new wave heaven complete with Siouxie and the Banshees and Peter Murphy. William was mortified by his mother singing into her pool cue like a microphone between turns at our family game of pool.

Hike to Hickman Bridge

As love affairs often go, intense but brief, our South Central Utah trip was winding down. Capitol Reef was calling to us. None of us having ever been there, we weren't sure what to expect. Like the rest of this trip, it was another wonderful surprise. It started with a chat with a very lonely ranger in the visitor's center. The perk of the weekend we picked, was the total and complete lack of crowds. A very small scattering of Austrian, and German tourists, a few other Salt Lake-ers, and that was all we saw. She told us some tips of cool things to look for on our chosen hike and we set out. First stop, looking at the petroglyphs along the sides of the mountain. We jumped out and oh-ed and ah-ed briefly. The weather was a crisp 45 degrees (according to our car) and it was a bit chilly in the shade.

A bit more goofing off and running up and down the boardwalk that ran along side the mountain for all of our petroglyph viewing pleasure, and we figured we should start our 2 mile hike. We had left it to the last minute, thinking it would be nice to end with a hike before turning into stiffs on the long car ride home.

The hike was only a mile in and a mile out, but rangers had listed it as "moderate" in all the guides. Saying there was a lot of quick elevation gain right at first and then it "leveled" out. I am not sure what they were talking about. Sure, it was "uphill" for a while at first, but a pretty gentle grade. But then it leveled out for a very short time with a lot of up and down through a sandy wash. Lots of places for the kids to boulder and play around. Bill found some ancient hand prints and a Fremont grainery just off the trail (the Ranger had told us where to look, so we felt no guilt.)


Hickman bridge is a natural bridge at the end of this particular trail. All of us had fun running around the rocks surrounding it and climbing on everything we could.

Romney, being our resident monkey, couldn't resist climbing and hanging, asking to be lifted into every possible crevice, and holding on until we worried his arms may become separated from the rest of his body.





Most of this hike was a lonely proposition, but the Austrians caught us right at the end. It was fortuitous timing, as it meant we could get a photo with all 4 of us in it. Although, the Austrian who offered was a bit taken aback by my funny phone/camera/ap.




When you are in the middle of a love affair, of course you think the object of your affection is the most amazing, but scenery like this just isn't found every where and is truly special and unique. When the love you feel is equally returned it is even better. Southern Utah seems to love us as much as we love it. As soon as we climbed out of our car to start the hike, the sun shone through the clouds, the sky changed to a clear bright blue and the temperature rose 17 degrees. It could not have been more perfect. The sun kept shining for us until the moment we all climbed back into the car to leave, sad to see us go, the sun hid away and the clouds returned, cooling it back down to the 45 degrees it had been at the visitor's center.

Lower Falls of Calf Creek

When you have the most beautiful, magical place (Sorry, Disney, you loose!) a short 7 mile drive along the most dazzling scenic roadway, you don't waste time enjoying your comfy cabin. You get outside and see it as much as 48 hours will allow! Famous for a reason, the Lower Falls of Calf Creek were our first stop on our "must see while we are here" list. 6 miles (round-trip) of moderate hiking for a spectacular waterfall pay-off!
Loaded like camels with their water stored on their backs, our boys headed out like explorers in a new world. Romney felt inspired by the Native American spirits that haunt the area. That or else he saw an opportunity to wear his favorite sweatshirt and took it.


My boys have been taught the art of sun-worship-
ping. Not in the vulgar 70's tinfoil reflectors and Crisco sense of the word, nor in traditional ways of the ancient civilizations. Rather, in the way their mother worships the mass of incandescent gas--- acknowledging it's preciousness and soaking it in. Romney begs for chances on every hike to stop and lay on a rock just for a few moments taking in the golden rays.


However, quickly after soaking in the sunshine, he felt the need again to disappear under a skeleton's cloak, refusing to pose for any pictures without the disguise firmly zipped up. I did not complain, for I had seen his hair that day!



William did not have any facial coverings (other than the shade of his hat) to protect his likeness from being captured on my digital film. Perhaps they were connecting to other mystical civilizations that believe the soul will be captured with a photo if a picture of their human form is taken.


I share no such belief and want some kind of proof "I was there." Rare is the photo that contains my likeness, but every once in a while I sneak out from behind the protection of my "lens" and allow my soul to be captured. Proving that I do exist and that I was, indeed, present for the experience.


Our lovely destination was 2 hours in for only 3 miles of terrain covered. With stops for bouldering the red rocks, drawing in the sand, hunting for fish and wildlife along the path. The reward was breathtaking. A fairy-like oasis in the middle of a desert. A waterfall worthy of any rain forest. Complete with a rainbow colored backdrop and emerald pool of water. Travel gods accepting our sacrifice of our first morning/early-afternoon rewarding us with another magical apparition.

Southern Affair

I am madly, passion-
ately in love. The object of my
affection is warm, alluring, captivating, compelling, enchanting, fascinating, intriguing, impressive, stimulating, full of stories rich with history and never boring or dull-- The Capitol Reef, Escalante, Grand Staircase area of Southern Utah.



Just as a new love affair should, the area fills me in ways that nothing has since my first Southern Utah love, St. George. Moab, Kanab and many other dusty southern Utah towns never turned me on the way this place did. It all started with a short drive with my true loves (in my car I love--can you feel the love?) to one of the most spectacular places on the planet. With views that stop the breath, you have to pull over and stop the car. We did at every possible over look. Rich vistas of crimson rock covered with a dusting of crystal white snow, intertwined with yellow, white and gray formations in various creative arrangements. It was love at first sight. All 4 of us, instantly pulled bewitchingly into the otherworldly aura that seems to encompass the entire area.
Wanting to be included more in the magic, we felt we should learn more about the stories hidden within the amazing landscape. Stopping at the Anasazi Museum gave us a glimpse into the
lore of the land. Learning about the religious symbolism prevalent in every aspect of their lives, helped us appreciate those who did not try to tame, but live in harmony with this mesmerizing place.


The Anasazi lived both above and below ground in different dwellings. Believing that their ancestors climbed up out of the earth, they mimicked that event every day climbing a ladder into the light. Lore that added to our mystical journey.



Adding reasons to adore my new love, was the availability of affordable, comfortable accommodations. A cabin high in the mountains on National Forest land on a working ranch stocked with all the appropriate creature comforts and isolation my family desires.



Camping in a cabin is totally acceptable when the cabin has two levels (allowing for "elbow room" and "privacy" as my 3 men chanted joyously!), a bathroom complete with hot running water for a shower, and a pot belly stove, microwave and refrigerator, and 2 heaters allowing total comfort while experiencing our journey.


No sojourn into another world would be complete without good food. Hell's Backbone Grille had been on my radar for some time. A luxury, organic restaurant tucked away in the middle of Nowheresville, Utah. Reservations assured us a seat at the dinner table. Dining on food fit for the Native American Gods, secured the perfect ending to our first day.

Lookout!

There comes a time in every one's life when it is appropriate to take over the wheel. That time should not be 12 years old. Bill and I let William have full control of our All-Wheel-Drive death capsule (aka: our vehicle) while shooting our family photo on the Salt Flats. We figured with nothing to hit and us next to him, nothing could go wrong. Nothing did, but a short lesson on jerking the wheel from side to side while turning, and gently pressing brakes instead of pushing hard in short bursts may have been in order.

En Garde!

What do you get for the kid who has pretty much everything? Asking that question a few weeks before William's birthday made Bill and I realize how lucky our boys really are. William doesn't need another video game (though, he may disagree with that statement). He has more legos than buckets to hold them all. Most toys are too babyish for him now that he is 12. Now what?

Weaponry, of course. Well, fencing lessons anyway. We registered him through the University of Utah Youth Education program thinking it would be a class of 5-10 kids who also registered through the same program all starting at ground zero in their knowledge. Wrong. It is a hard core Russian fencing program. Many of the kids participating are ranked nationally. William joined a group already in progress. They had them doing all kinds of tricky warm-ups and conditioning. The class is also a half hour longer than advertised and at the south end of the valley.

The good news, William loves it! He loves the workout. He loves the swords. He loves the challenge. Enjoy the video below of two young children coming at each other with pointy objects for points. (He is the one in purple pants, by the way.)